Natural History Wanderings

Channel Islands National Park announced

We are excited to announce a fun 40th anniversary event on Saturday, March 7. The event is from 10 – 4 and free to the public. (Read below for more information)

This free event will feature scientific lectures, Chumash storytelling, film showings, kids crafts and interactive programs, dock tours and a native plant sale sponsored by Channel Islands Park Foundation.

Superintendent Ethan McKinley will provide a free lecture at 2:00 pm discussing the state of the park. At 11:00 am Dr. Jonathan Hoffman from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History will provide a lecture on the recently-discovered sea cow fossil on Santa Rosa Island. Julie Tumamait-Stenslie will provide Chumash storytelling.

Throughout the day, segments from the 2016 documentary, West of the West: Tales from California’s Channel Islands, will be shown. Produced by Sam Tyler and written and directed by Peter Seaman and Brent Sumner, the documentary provides an in-depth look into intriguing stories of island inhabitants and history.

Dock tours will be available for the public to have an up-close look at the National Park Service (NPS) vessels. Biologists with the park’s kelp forest monitoring team will demonstrate the long-term monitoring techniques they use to better understand the health of the marine environment.

 During the event, biologists and rangers will provide opportunities for children to learn about different careers in the NPS. Children’s activities will be available throughout the day, including a button-maker station and fish prints. A junior ranger station will allow children to complete activity booklets and earn junior ranger badges.

 The native plant sale is an opportunity for California native plant lovers to bring home at least ten varieties of native plants unique to the Channel Islands. The sale is from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and is sponsored by the Channel Islands Park Foundation and supported by volunteers from the Ventura County Master Gardeners. Proceeds from the sale will support the garden.